Mr Tomato's Old and New

The typical garden is an extremely subjective concept, yet in my mind it exists in in the modest town of Shoreham. With an array of flowering herbaceous perennials as well as flowering tree’s, effective landscape design and an abundance of edible crops, the residence of Mr Tomato and family contains a piece of everything which combines to make a complete and well as unique garden.

With classic rose cultivars including Rosa.’Korbin’ or Iceberg Rose’s, dominating the front yard, complemented by an adjoining walkway guided by a line of Magnolia Grandiflora ‘Kay Parris’ (A cultivar of the original Magnolia Grandiflora which consists of the classic discolourous leaf, as well as the large saucer like, white flowers; yet the cultivar is known not to grow as tall,) the initial impression of this garden during the blooming summer months screams ornamental gardening.    

Whilst your original thoughts suggest a traditional yet somewhat predictable environment, those thoughts are extinguished when you come to a piece of contemporary and simple yet effective example of design. The implementation of a striking water feature and flawless paving provides a genuine feature; and once the trickling water initiates it provides the much sought after soothing psychological break, which becomes increasingly important in a society full of unnecessary stresses.

 

Finally once the much emphasised and scrutinized backyard is reached, there comes the trend of horticulture that will inevitably continue. With a vegetable garden the centrepiece surrounded by a shed of egg producing chickens, towering eucalypts and a simple couch grass lawn, Mr Tomato’s residence provides a prime example of clever, horticultural thinking for the future. Obviously with the pressures of everyday inflation, a self-producing and sustainable garden becomes a more and more practical idea.

The one criticism of Mr Tomato would be the lack of indigenous plant species. Whilst there is a small population of Eucalypts from the Myrtaceae family, the large majority of plant species are considered to be exotic. This type of constructive criticism continues with the concept of future, horticultural thinking. With the rapid contrast in Melbourne’s weather, the resilience and matchless quality that come with native genera such as Acacia’s and Callistemon’s (Bottlebrush’s) can provide an equally effective spectacle, whilst still remaining ecologically manageable.

Ultimately my idea of a range of classic and moving garden is somewhat debatable, what is reasonably certain is the implementation of indigenous and exotic, traditional as well as contemporary horticulture required to make a complete garden. 

Its heaps good.